Automotive Industry CSR: Caltex Fuel Your School Programme to Help Fund Classroom Projects in Kelantan and Pahang this year

Chevron Malaysia Limited, which markets the Caltex® brand, continues its annual Caltex Fuel Your School programme (“the programme”) in partnership with MyKasih Foundation this year. This marks the fifth year Chevron Malaysia / Caltex is running this CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) Programme which benefit schools (which are chosen and those that need additional help the most) within the communities that Caltex operates throughout Malaysia.

The original BMC, BL (and maybe Rover) Mini and its Riley Elf, Wolseley Hornet, Mini Moke, Clubman, Countryman & pick up variants at the Auto Bavaria Mega Fest 2016

Lots of original, classic British Motor Corporation / British Leyland (and maybe Rover) Mini (with their owners, obviously) attended Auto Bavaria's Mega Sales event a couple of weeks ago. Here are some photos of it. Note the Riley Elf variant above and below (the one that has a different front and rear end). The Elf was the 'luxury' version of the Mini together with the Wolseley Hornet - exterior differences between the two include a different grille and the dashboard  

Hyundai Motor is the 35th biggest brand in the world according to Interbrand’s latest annual global brand value rankings

The Hyundai Motor company is the 35th biggest brand in the world according to Interbrand, a leading  consultancy company that mainly deals with branding and its net contribution to the value of a company. The Korean company also moved up one place to 6 th in the global automotive industry top 10 brands, ahead of Audi, Volkswagen, Nissan and Porsche and is the 4 th most valuable high-volume automotive brand.

TEST DRIVE: THE 2016 FORD S-MAX 2.0L ECOBOOST® - Petrolheads with lots of Children would be happy with one of these

Abandon all hope for those that enter here. This is a nice phrase to use especially those who earn a modest income, married, have more than three children, a maid, a pet car or dog and can only have one car in their garage yet has the need for speed. This is also the case for those that need to carry a lot of people who are adults, like their parents, grandparents and grown up kids for holidays but love the thrill of driving. There is almost no hope for these sort of people. I mean, to have fun you'd need something like a properly stonking hot hatchback, like a Ford Fiesta ST. Or a Ford Ranger WildTrak 3.2 which could uproot a tree or two. But you need to carry people. Lots of them. 

Toyota Upgrades the Vios - A new engine and drivetrain finally as well as VSC for all variants

 2016 Toyota Vios 1.5GX

Good news! Toyota have finally upgraded the 3rd generation Toyota Vios! Launched in 2013, this time the edgy styled Vios gets a slight exterior tweak but most importantly, a proper engine and gearbox from the 2010s instead of still being stuck in 2002. 

Renault Captur sales promo - Enjoy a rebate of RM8,000 in the 'CAPTURE LIFE, CAPTURE STYLE, CAPTURE DEALS' promo

Capture Life, Capture Style, Capture Deals’,is the latest sales promo for the Renault Captur by Renault distributors TC Euro Cars here in Malaysia. Customers who purchase the Renault Captur will enjoy rebates of RM8,000 off the vehicle price of RM117,200 (on-the-road inclusive of GST, without insurance, for Peninsular Malaysia and private registration). 

Ford and Sime Darby Auto Connexion starts their Year End Sales Promo - The BIG DEAL Promotion is on till 31st December 2016!

Ford and local distributor Sime Darby Auto Connexion (SDAC) has announced their year end promotions by kicking off the Big Deal promotion. The Big Deal promo will offer customers attractive cash rebates on selected models nationwide until 31 December 2016.

ISUZU MU-X SUV TO PARTICIPATE IN THE 2016 BORNEO SAFARI

The Isuzu Mu-X SUV will participate in this year's Borneo Safari International Offroad Challenge. This is quite a unique thing as it would mark participation by Isuzu Malaysia Sdn Bhd. - a manufacturer taking part in one of the harshest off-road challenges out there.

Road Safety: GLOBAL NCAP's Vision Zero - Key points at the 2016 OECD International Transport Forum

I have published below the PRESS RELEASE by GLOBAL NCAP regarding their latest calls for improved vehicle safety. It makes for interesting reading if you are interested in what's going to happen next in the realm of vehicle safety.

ROADSHOW TO PROMOTE SHELL ADVANCE LIMITED EDITION PACKS WITHIN PENINSULAR MALAYSIA

Shell Advance is embarking on a Peninsular Malaysia-wide roadshow to promote its newly introduced, specially designed limited edition packs of its best-selling motorcycle engine oils. From now till November 2016, the Shell Advance mobile truck will be visiting more than 100 locations across Peninsular Malaysia to promote four variants of Shell Advance motorcycle engine oils that now come in limited edition packs – Shell Advance Ultra with PurePlus Technology 10W-40 (1L) and 15W-50 (1L), Shell Advance AX7 10W-40 (1L) and Shell Advance AX5 Scooter 15W-40 (0.8L).

MOTORSPORT: PERODUA Sponsors Nabil Jeffri in the GP2 Race Series

This piece of news is something that gives hope to Malaysians who intend to compete in the world stage. Perodua has announced that it is sponsoring Muhammad Nabil Jan Al Jeffri in this year's GP2 Race Series. Perodua joins a list of sponsors that include our Kementerian Belia dan Sukan (The Youth and Sports Ministry of Malaysia). At a young 22 years of age, he would need all the assistance he can get to be able to compete in the international level. 

Mercedes-Benz Malaysia launches the C-Class Cabriolet and the SLC Roadster

The Mercedes-Benz Dream Cars Collection is what Mercedes-Benz calls their sports cars and coupes. They have expanded the Malaysian official sports car line-up with the introduction of two new models, the all-new C-Class Cabriolet & the new generation SLC Roadster, offering a wider range of options for connoisseurs of dream cars.

Audi Malaysia and Swire Motors officially open Audi Puchong

So many things happened yesterday - F1 pre-race parties, car launches, a diesel fuel launch and showroom launches. Which brings us to this piece of news. Audi Malaysia has announced the appointment of Swire Motors as the latest authorised dealer for the Audi brand in Malaysia.  Audi Puchong has already begun operations early September at a temporary Audi Puchong Showroom located at the SetiaWalk Mall, with after sales support provided at a dedicated facility nearby. This interim arrangement will precede the construction of a fully-fledged Audi Puchong 3S centre that will begin operations in 2018. 

Happenings: At the Renault Sport Formula One Pre-Race Party at the Renault Flagship Showroom

I attended Renault's pre-race Formula One party yesterday. The event was organised by TC Euro Cars (TCEC), the sole franchise holder of Renault cars in Malaysia over at the Renault Showroom and lepak place over at Section 13 Petaling Jaya. A total of 120 lucky F1 fans yesterday were treated to a special appearance by Renault Sport Formula One™ team drivers – Kevin Magnussen (middle- right) and Jolyon Palmer (middle-left).

AUDI RS 3 SEDAN LAUNCHED OVER AT THE 2016 PARIS MOTOR SHOW - 400HP / 480NM 2.5LITER 5 CYLINDERS

Audi has launched the Audi RS 3 sedan at this year’s Paris Motor Show. The RS 3 Sedan is the first compact Audi sedan to bear the RS label. It will be sold under the “Audi Sport” label, with presales of the compact RS model first start in China and in the United States in spring 2017. The two countries must be the brand's most important markets for the RS models.

Kimi Raikkonen tries his hand at Fire Fighting and Fire Truck Driving courtesy of Shell V-Power

It is Formula One weekend here in Malaysia. So there have been lots of happenings here and there. This time, Scuderia Ferrari driver, Kimi 'The Ice Man' Raikkonen gets to try out a Fire Truck courtesy of Shell V-Power. 

Audi launches the Second Generation Q5 at the 2016 Paris Motor Show

The 2nd Generation Audi Q5 has been launched over at the 2016 Paris Motor Show. This popular compact luxury crossover SUV basically gets Audi's current, slightly more edgy styling compared to its more rounded looking predecessor bringing the Q5 more in line with current trends. A simple way to say how it looks like would be to take the newly launched (in Malaysia) Audi Q7 and shrink it down a bit.

Honda Civic Type R revealed at the 2016 Paris Motor Show - Based on the hatch with production scheduled for 2017

Honda has revealed the CIVIC TYPE R concept car at the 2016 Paris Motor Show. It is based on the current and just launched Honda Civic Hatchback. What this new Type R is seen to have is a continuation of the current Civic Type R 2.0 turbo - a whole lot of aero addenda and that 2.0liter VTEC Turbo engine.

NAZA Italia reveals the Ferrari GTC4Lusso T in a simultaneous global debut with the official launch at the Paris Motor Show

Not too shabby for Malaysia eh? We actually get to view the newest Ferrari at the same time it is launched officially at the 2016 Paris Motor Show! NAZA Italia, official importer of the Ferrari brand in Malaysia, has unveiled the Ferrari GTC4Lusso T in a simultaneous global debut event. The reveal was held at the St. Regis Kuala Lumpur today, in tandem with the car’s official launch at the Paris Motor Show.

Renault Showcases New Models, Refreshed ones and a Concept Car at the 2016 Paris Motor Show

Renault is currently showcasing electric vehicles, new designs and a completely refreshed line-up at the 2016 Paris Motor Show. Significant models include the refreshed

 Renault ZOE electric car, the premiere of the Renault Koleos Initiale Paris and the Renault TREZOR Concept car.